Grand final day: Queanbeyan derby to cap massive day of rugby league

The Kangaroos are back on top as kings of Queanbeyan rugby league, after a dream grand final for one of their toughest and most experienced players.

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The best photos from the Queanbeyan Kangaroos' Canberra Raiders Cup grand final win over the Queanbeyan Blues at Seiffert Oval. Pictures by Keegan Carroll

In the third-straight Queanbeyan derby grand final to decide the Canberra Raiders Cup first grade premiers, the Kangaroos fought off a fast finishing Blues outfit to claim a 28-16 victory on Saturday afternoon.

It was the 14th meeting of the crosstown clubs in the grand final, and a loud, packed grandstand and Seiffert Oval hill, split by sky blue and maroon colours, highlighted the passionate rivalry between the teams.

On a stunning day in Queanbeyan, the Kangaroos raced to a big lead before a heartstopping comeback late by the Blues had one half of the crowd on their feet wishing for a fairytale.

Veteran Kangaroos back-rower Josh Ayers, who retired from footy after the unforgettable win, said it was hard not to have flashbacks of the Blues' incredible comeback victory in the grand final last year.

Nursing a broken rib that he injured in his first tackle, it was a mighty effort for the 40-year-old to stay out there the whole game, let alone put in the performance he did, scoring a try in his last hurrah.

Josh Ayers broke his rib as the Kangaroos celebrated victory. Picture by Keegan Carroll

"It just kept popping out," Ayers told The Canberra Times, with a well-earned tinnie in hand, celebrating with teammates.

"It was sticking straight out, and then every time I lifted my arm, it'd pop back in and it felt alright when it was in.

"This is just icing on the cake for a perfect year. No one gave us a chance at the start of the season, and we had the belief."

After a tense first 15 minutes where no team could find much momentum, Lewis Bozzato scored the first of the day for the Kangaroos, muscling his way over the try-line.

Tiger Campbell scored by outleaping his opposition fullback and a penalty goal further extended the Kangaroos' lead, before Zaen Edmonds put the Blues on the board prior to half-time.

Playing with a busted rib Ayers cruised over to score, and when Patrick Broe pushed the margin to 20 points few could have predicted what happened next.

The Blues dug deep and put the Kangaroos on their heels clinging onto the lead after quickfire late tries by William Graham and Jamie Kotz that reduced the margin to eight.

Amidst a personal tragedy that struck Eli Tuli's family and wearing black armbands in respect of their teammate's loss, the Blues played their hearts out in the final minutes to get a shot at stealing the Cup.

But the Kangaroos went down swinging, and when cult hero Jesse Dent scored right on the siren the memorable grand final win was sealed.

As the trophy was presented to the Kangaroos, Blues players sat with tears in their eyes, ruing their slow start in another Queanbeyan derby classic.

It was the Kangaroos' third first grade premiership in four years, after their triumph in 2024 and 2023.

"It feels very good. It's a massive year following from last year and how devastating that was," Dent said post-game.

"We knew it was going to take something special and a team effort to get the win."

Meanwhile, the Belconnen United Sharks won an historic Katrina Fanning Shield against the Gungahlin Bulls, 20-14.

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